© Pete Saloutos/Panoramic Images (Washington Title Image Large)

Development Pressures in Washington
Population growth and the accompanying development are major drivers of the threats to Washington’s biodiversity. Our population is currently more than 6 million, having doubled in the last 40 years. By the year 2030, Washington is expected to have more than 8 million residents. Growth is expected to be the greatest in the Puget Sound region and in Clark and Spokane counties. New homes, commercial buildings, roads, sewers, and water supply systems will be needed. All of these developments will add to the pressures on our species and ecosystems. Those pressures are exacerbated by our collective personal resource consumption: bigger cars, bigger houses, bigger storage units, faster foods.